Transcript of Press Briefing with Senator Rodolfo G Biazon
Re: Release of Ces Drilon and cameraman

I am very glad that the hostage taking of Ces ended the way it did, they were released to safety without the cost of any lives, not unlike previous instances where many lives were lost for example in the kidnapping of Father Giancarlo Bossi 14 lives were lost ...

It is mandatory for the government to review its policies related to such incidents. I am looking at the possibility of the regulation of the movements of hi profile personalities who are either backed up by organizations who can pay ransoms or persons who are rich like Regis Romero...

If things will be left as it was before, this thing will continue to happen, again and again...

I am worried about the laxity in allowing hi profile personalities moving in and out of those areas. I am reminded even of the visit of US Amb Kenny in an MILF controlled area..if something happened to her...it will not only be her safety that will be put in jeopardy but the situation of the AFP and this country in particular with the rest of the world. Events like this has a way of making what is already a complicated peace and order situation in Mindano more complicated. It leads the expenditure of fund, it leads to the loss of lives and would affect the peace process.

Q. Admission of negotiators on ransom?

Whoever admitted to payment of ransom even in past incidents...no admission..the policy is there...but if I am a kidnapper among these groups will I continue to go on kidnapping people asking for ransom and then releasing people without the payment of ransom...ano iyan naglalaro lang ba sila...hindi ah... if there is anyone who knows if ransom is being paid in incidents like this is the kidnappers and the negotiators...hindi talaga pwede aminin iyan...the government should take measures to really prevent such payment of such ransom...it is a policy yes...but, does it happen or not?

Q. Board and lodging?

Huwag na tayo maglokohan, ransom iyan kahit magkano iyan.. eto ang tanong ko..ano yung tinatawag na livelihood program na ibibigay iyan...kanino ibibigay iyan...papano patutupad iyan.. sino magbibigay niyan...ang gobyerno...!!! so if the government agrees to that...then the government is actually paying some form of ransom one way or another!!

Something that turned the routine of the government outside down esp the routine of the AFP and the PNP and other civilian agencies, tapos bibigyan pa natin ng pabuya mga iyan sa pamamagitan ng livelihood..of course that was mentioned only by a low ranking officer from the province...let us hear from the national government.. will it condone such offer of livelihood in exchange for the release of the hostages?

Q. Ngayon wala ng bihag, may recommendation durugin mga badidong grupo na ito para wag na maulit...may kakayahan ba ang gobyerno...

Palagay ko meron if we are going to be serious about this..definitely we can not go allowing people even organizations from continuing to make a mockery of the laws of this country... the logical response of govt is to go after these criminals...

Q. Gaano ka laki ba nga itong rebel group?

How can government officials go in and out of those areas whether as negotiators or mediators..meaning government whether local or national ..there are personalities in government who can do this...Why???... I have assets there in the area who called me the day after Ces Drilon was taken.. immediately there was a discussion of the possibility of being part of the negotiations and the payment of ransom...they even offered to engage the services of an aircraft to deliver the money...and I told them, don't even think of it, do not get involved.

This is the same advice I gave General Yano. During the confirmation hearings of Gen Yano, I advised Gen Yano not to be involved in any negotiation especially if the negotiations involves ransom...I told him he must learn from the Lamitan experience where the general perception of the public is may kumitang General dun, tutoo man o hindi that eroded the credibility of some of our security elements...sabi ko miski may ginawa kayo parang wala kayong ginawa...but, I told Gen Yano to prepare contingency plans in case a rescue is needed...they are ready... whatever you do... the primary objective is the safety of the hostages...

Q. Ano pa po info ng asset ninyo?

Initially there were only 10 in the group of Parad and Jundail, but because events like this attract other participants in the venture, definitely the venture is all about fund raising...lumalaki ang hinihingi...ang sabi ng asset ko ang unang hinihingi ay P10 pero nuong pinasukan na ng kung sino sinong mediators, negotiators go betweens, lumaki na ang hinihingi...siempre madaming maghahati hati..nagsasakayan na...sabi ko sa asset ko...and this asset of mine was the same one who called me telling me before that Father Bossi was not in Basilan and he was proven right, he was not in Basilan... kase ng kumilos mga Marines duon, tumawag asset ko ang sabi, Sir sabihin mo sa mga bata mo wala yung hinahanap nila sa Basilan, nanduon sa Lanao Sur Lanao Norte...he was correct...at tumawag na sa akin ito the day after nakuha si Ces.

Sir sabi niya nagkakausapan nanaman ito ng negotiating...

If in the past incidents no ransom were really paid..do you think they will do it again...no! They will do it over and over again for as long as they know that such venture is profitable for them...hindi gagawin iyan...e inuulitulit...

Q. Local officials to be investigated?

All these people who might be participants of this scheme, there is a need for government to investigate this...sabi ng asset ko unang hinihingi P10Million...dumami negotiators, go betweens, pinaglipatlipat si Ces sa iba iba pang grupo so lumaki yung hinihingi P20M. From an initial 10...lumaki na daw hanggang a hundred yung grupo.